“I think this is a good match up for me. I’m going to be the guy that’s a lot more dangerous on my feet and it’s somewhere he doesn’t want to be with me. So it’s going to be his task to get me into his world on the ground. I’m not the easiest guy to take down, you know—so the determining factor of the fight is who can defend takedowns, who can get their takedown and if I can knock him out coming in or whatever. [Pretty] much all Palhares has is submissions. I try to come up with a game plan not to fight right in the guy’s strengths, so obviously I’m going to be trying to stay up on my feet with him. I just see myself knocking him out. I was pretty pissed at my last performance and I’m probably going to be a little bit pissed when I go out there and fight this guy. I’m ready to do a 15-minute grappling match with him if I have to, but I’m not going to lose.”
– Former PRIDE champion Dan “Hollywood” Henderson talks to UFC.com about fighting grappling phenom Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares at UFC 88 in Atlanta, Georgia on September 6. “Hendo” has his back against the wall after dropping his first two UFC matches (against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 75 and Anderson Silva at UFC 82). Has time run out on the 37 year-old superstar? Or is he going to wreak havoc on the up-and-coming Palhares? We’ll know soon enough.
46 Comments »
Hendo is going to Knock out Palhares, Palhars only way of winning is on the ground, and he will not be able to take down hendo and keep him there. War Henderson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I totally agree. Dan is one of my favourite fighters and will always remain so. Im sure Palhares will be a force to be reckoned with but Dan is not about to lose his 3rd straight fight.
The one thing Dan has got is guts and experience and as we all know he has been in there with the best. Palhares is gonna be very shocked when Dan gives him his patented big right.
Just one step for Dan to get back in there and avenge his loss with Anderson!
why is Palahares only a +160 DOG? THose odds seem very fishy to me. They should be higher and thats why I want to risk a small amount by betting on Toquino!
I was VERY worried about this fight at first and as a matter of fact, I didn’t even talk about it up until a few days ago because I truely believed that Palhares was going to catch Dan. HOWEVER, being the real Hollywood Henderson fan that I am, I have been back on board and placed by bets on Hendo yesterday!
John, as of right now, if you are still planning on betting on Palhares, especially at ONLY +160 (like I said yesterday), you’d be kissing your money good bye, because DAN IS PISSED! Hendo is one of those rare fighters that I believe fight better when they are mad. When he had the look in his eye like he really wants to knock you out, 9 times out of 10, he does. And Palhares is a novice on his feet, and the only way to get the submission is to get the fight to the ground. That is not an easy task against an Olympic Grecco Roman Wrestler and 10 year veteran of MMA at the highest level.
Hendo just can not lose 3 fights straight coming back to the UFC with his 3rd loss being to a rookie/sophamore. I just don’t see it happening any longer.
U dont have to convince me about Hendo. When the UFC signed him from PRIDE I was tHRILLED! SO far, I have not seen the REAL Dan Henderson. I havent seen the Fire! He hasn’t shown the Nastiness and Ruthlessness that made him the Bad Mofo that he was in Pride. Hendo is a BIG GAME Fighter, he gets pumped for the big fights, but then fights down to the level of competition in his smaller fights and thats what worries me about this fight. Hopefully the fact that Hendo is in Desperate need of a win will make Hendo fight like the fighter we all know he is capable of!
I havent wagered anything on this fight yet. I am waiting becfause I am sure that the Palhares odds will shoot up in his favopr as the fight gets closer. THe opening odds at only +160 seem fishy to me. I cant believe Palhares isn’t in the plus 200’s. This makes me feel that Hendo is the “SUCKER bet”. Because I feel strongly that I will win my Big money bets at UFC 88, I am still going to risk some chump change on Toquino. However, I will still be rooting for Henderson. I want nothing more then Hendo to fight like the MONSTER we all know he is! I just have this feeling about this fight so I got to go with the gut!
Keep in mind Hendo has been submitted by great grapplers and I hear that Toquino’s grappling is rated higher then the Nog Brothers and Anderson who all have submitted Hendo!
Has Toquino ever grappled against Jacre, Maia, GOnzaga, Werdum? If he has, anyone know how he did?
By the way, Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell are now sponsored by bud light….Get that Dough Anderson!
Oh, no doubt, I know I don’t have to convince you about Dan “Built Ford Tough” Henderson, my friend!!!!
He hasn’t been involved with a non-title fight since 2005. I don’t know of any other fight that can say that, at least from the major promotions.
Hendo tending to fight down to his competition combined with Palhares ground game had me worried sick about this fight since the day it was signed.
It comes down to Dan KNOWS that he can NOT lose this fight. Palhares losing this fight would more than likely be a good thing for his career, a learning experience. Its never a bad thing to lose to a legend of the sport, especically if you learn something from it.
If Palhares’s odds were in the +250 range would mean that Hendo would be sitting pretty at -340 or so. In that case, I would be like you with money on Palhares but rooting for Hendo. But I just can’t bet against my favorite fighter. I’ve never bet against Dan or either of the Diaz’s. However, sorry Fitch, I had money on GSP. However, like you mentioned, “got to go with the gut”. I spend the first couple months thinking Palhares was winning, and by fight night, it would only be 2 weeks that I finally put my trust/money back in Hendo. You should always go with your gut, especially when betting. All I can do know is hope that it doesn’t come back to bit me.
I just rewatched the Silva/Hendo fight and thought it was strange. Dan just either didn’t seem himself or something, almost like he wasn’t working really hard at the end to keep from getting submitted. I know he “hustles”, but it just left a strange impression and I was wondering if he had almost given up or was Silva just completely overwhelming near the end. And I’m not bashing Hendo, just noticed some things on the second viewing that I hadn’t picked up on the first.
I have a feeling Henderson will beat Palhares at UFC88.. In the Clinch.
Il was verry lucky to meet Dan in France and il asked him a few question il asked him when he got a rematch with Anderson he says that he didn’t no but that he wanted to fight him again because that day he wasn’t feeling so well because of he’s training in high altitude in big bear he came back on the ( ground ? ) and you need a few days to readapt on the difference of altitude some guys need a few days other more it depends and he needed more days so l’ets hope that we can see a rematch.
A good leg locker does not need takedowns to sub people-simple as that(refer to imanari, ximu, etc). Dan’s excuses for losing to silva are pathetic especially for a veteran of more than ten years. That said he either takes the decision or palhares subs in end of rd 1.
ChefDaddy, you’re one of the 1st to comment on the way Dan looked as if he just gave up his neck. I saw that and thought Hendo mentally checked out because he was tired and a little dazed. I know, I hate to think Hendo might have showed weakness in that way… I rarely bet on these fight but I think I’m going bet on Hendo.
One thing that’s bothered me about hendo lately, he seems to gas quickly… Hendo’s at 38 yrs old, either he’s got to change diet n’ training & supplements or think about getting the most $$$ he can before he retires from MMA.
Man, THORAZINE, I just rewatched it yet again. Don’t get me wrong guys, I love watching Hendo fight, and will pick him against Palhares just cuz a favorite of mine to watch (still need to do my H.W. on Palhares). But I gotta say it, Hendo gave up against Silva. When the Spider put that body triangle on him, he just…….faded…..like he wanted it to be over with. There was even one point where he seemed to have both hands up and not even trying to stop Silva from choking him out. I don’t think I wish to see that again, it actually made me kind of sad.
Hendo needs a win in the UFC bad. I know his losses come to Champions Silva and then Champion Rampage, but, his Pride days seem like millions of years ago.
I gotta give him credit though…37 years old and fighting at the highest level of MMA…props.
liddell and Anderson Silva landed Bud-light sponsors
“I’m ready to do a 15-minute grappling match with him if I have to, but I’m not going to lose.”…This is what former Pride champions are made of. Sorry Palhares, no climbin’ up the ladder for you this time…
My 1st thought bout this article was Henderson was drunk
Lol, on the Vodka Redbulls or do you think he would be a Stella man?
I see Hendo as a beer-drinking kind of guy if anything. But actually, Hendo’s personality doesn’t make it seem like he goes out and party’s too much. When’s the last time you heard a post fight interview including a shout out to Dan Henderson’s after party? lol
all ive ever heard him talkin about was havin a few brews with page.. and it didnt sound like many
I know Palhares is a good grappler, but I’m pulling for Henderson. He’s one of my favorite fighters so yeah, I am biased.
+1
C’mon Jesse, are you serious: “Has time run out on the 37 year-old superstar?” ?
Losing to Rampage and Anderson Silva is hardly something to be ashamed of. He’s not the youngest anymore, true - but he’s definetly still a threat to anyone in his weightclass(es).
I don’t know much of anything, save what I’m learning on here, as of yet about Palhares (so, I guess I have some MMA homework this weekend). He must have some serious skills to even be matched with Henderson in the first place. But I do know that Dan is one bad dude. And a pissed off Dan could be one REALLY bad dude!
oLYMPIC NEWS:
In Beijing, China, after winning the gold medal in the superheavyweight division in judo this past week, Japan’s Satoshi Ishii said he wanted to fight “Emelianenko Fedor,” as the legendary Russian fighter is known in Japan.
With Ishii becoming a national hero in Japan and the sport fading in popularity, such a match would draw the kind of interest that Emelianenko against a top fighter could never do.
Lets hope that will be his opponent in Dream? Knowing Fedor, he either picks a guy with no JJ game or with no striking.
That fight in Japan would be CRAZY big! National hero vs adopted national hero.
That would be an interesting fight ………. if they competed in Judo! But I understand the Japanese culture at least enough to understand theat they love a freak show in any way, shape, or form. Did anyone catch any of that show, “I survived a Japanese Game Show”? Well, seeing that I’m married, I actually watched several episodes. The Japanese just like the weirdest things. Dress up like a baby and try to pop yellow balloons with your rear end that are on the floor and filled with yellow-yolky substance. They like that stuff.
I just hope that this Judo dude’s head isn’t as hard as Timmy cuz all we and Affliction need is for Fedor to break his hand again, this time on NYE. That would have him out of commission till the summer.
The best actual Japanese game show I saw involved getting enemas, putting on long johns and seeing who could hold it the longest!
I havent watched that show, but I used to watch the real Japanese Game show: Ninja warrior occasionally!
I dont get to upset with who Fedor faces on New Years eve in Japan. I understand and Respect him for giving back to the Japanese fans. its not his fault that the Japanese are fixated with WHACK Freakshow fights. Now a days, Fedor is trying to satisfy all his fans. He gives the Japanese people their Freakshows and he is coming to America to fight the few remaining top Heavyweights that he hasn’t already beaten, and I really appreciate it! He is giving both his American and Japanese fans exactly what they want to see.
Don’t forget MFC or MXC or whatever that show was called!
He a submission wizard. The difference is that he has the ability to use it in MMA effectively. There are a lot of BJJ Blackbelts and so called ground specialist, but they can’t compete at the level they should be once elbows and strikes come into play. It hard to relax and think when your getting popped in the face. Palhares, is one of the ones that can do it.
Now I don’t see him beating Henderson, but if this fight goes to the ground it’s going to be real interesting because Palhares has some slick submissions that seem to come out of nowhere. Will he get to the ground and keep him there? Doubtful. I see Dan winning by right hand KO
I think Hendo takes this……he deserves a win since returning to the UFC right? As long as he avoids the ground game he’ll be fine.
Palhares is a great submission guy but isn’t anywhere near as well rounded as Dan.
I see Hendo out wrestling and out boxing him to finish via TKO.
Im not going to buy into this Palhares hype just yet. Palhares may be very good on the groung, but whos to say he can get it there? And even if Palhares gets it to the ground, can he keep it there? Does Palhares have a good chin, cause one of Hendo’s right hands can, and will check that? Im excited to see the outcome!!!
I don’t buy it either. And now that Hendo has publicly said he is pissed off I think Palhares is going to sleep. Hendo is a world class fighter and there is no way he will lose 3 in a row, especially after losing both his belts. He will come out and want to make a statement and it is just to bad Palhares will have to be on the receiving end of it.
He already know whether the fight hits the ground and he stays on the top or on the bottom, the fight won’t last more than 2 minutes. Man, people still did not realize — Toquinho is a phenomenal fighter and Ricardo Arona, Alexandre Ferreira, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Paulo Filho couldn’t handle him on the trainings.
RIP HENDO!
Hendo is already 1-1 against the HW Big Nog and he would SMOKE Paulo Filho. I mean, Dan’s beat up dummy from Team Quest had Filho beat in the last fight (Chael Sonnen).
Please rewatch Hendo-Nog I. Anyone who has ever seen that fight knows that it should have been a draw more than anything and if you are familiar with RINGS then u know about the bs politics. That is all.(Sorry i am worse than BJ penn fans when it comes to the Nogs).
never seen it but but the rules back then were pretty messed up at times…fedors only loss because of a illegal strike i mean dang
Nog submitted him both times I thought, by armbar once in the 3rd round and once in the 1st??
Kinda getting a little ahead of ourselves aren’t we. No doubt Palhares is tough, but this ain’t no JJ match.
Hendo by KO r1
Hendo by enraged caveman strikes
lol
Hendo looks sexy @ 85 hopefully he stays there lol
A pissed off and focused Hendo is hard to beat.
I don’t think that Hendo’s striking is technical enough to keep Toquinho at bay. Hendo won’t be a pushover on the ground, but I doubt he will be able to reverse Toquinho or mount much offense from his back. If Hendo is not subbed he will likely lose a unanimous decision by constantly being on the defensive on the ground (similar to Mayhem Miller vs Jacare).
Some may question Toquinho’s ability to take Dan down wrestling-wise but, as someone previously mentioned, you don’t always need a conventional takedown to snag the leglock. Also, I don’t think Palhares could take Hendo down in the clinch, but I do give Toquinho a decent chance shooting in on Dan.